Gerbe and lance piece for pyrotechnics.



H. J. MARTiN.

GERBE AND LANCE PIECE FOR PYROTECHNICS.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZT. IQIB.

1,291,584. Patented Jan. 14,1919.

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HARRY J. MARTIN, 01 FORT DODGE, IOWA.

GERBE AND LANCE PIECE FOR PYROTECHNIGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Application filed March 27, 1918. Serial No. 225,079.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY J. MARTIN, citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort Dodge Webster County, Iowa, have invented a neii and useful Improvement in Gerbe and Lance Pieces for Pyrotechnics, of which the following is a specification.

This application is a continuation in part of, and covers some features described in my application No. 124,009, filed October 4,, 1916, to which reference hereby is made.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for pyrotechnical set pieces, and particularly to facilitate packing the same in relatively small compass.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for compacting or contracting a set piece for storage or packing.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hub and spoke construction for gerbe and lance set pieces.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawing,-in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of design constructed according to my invention and embodying my improvements.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of another design, involving the gerbe as well as lance construction. Fig. 3 is a detail view of ele ments shown in Fig, 2.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of another deslgn, embodying my improvements and simulating the red cross; and Fig. 5 is a plan on an enlarged scale illustrating the manner of compacting or contracting the design of Fig. 4: for storage or shipment, the lances, fuse and hub not being shown.

In the particular construction according to Fig. 1 the numeral designates a hub which may be of any desired shape, in this instance cylindrical, preferably formed of wood. The hub 10 is formed with a plurality of radial and circumferentially spaced sockets into which are doweled loosely the inner ends of spokes 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, in this instance five in number. Frame bars 16, 17 are mounted on opposite sides of each spoke 1145 inclusive, and are pivoted at one end each to the outer ends of said spokes by hinges 18. The hinges 18, which are to beused (flexed) in each instance but a very few times at. most, preferably are formed of strips of pliable, non-combustible material, such as tin,thus providing an articulating means of cheap and simple, construction. In this instance the frame bars 16, 17 are arranged to form the outline of a five-pointed star, and their inner ends are directed generally toward the center of the device but diverge from thespokes to which they are secured, the inner ends of the bars 16 meeting the inner ends of the adjacent bars 17 to form a continuous outline around the ends of the spokes. The adjacent ends of the bars 16, 17 are pivotally secured together by hinges 19 similar to the hinges 18; except that, in one instance, as in the space between spokes l3 and 14, or at any other convenient place, the hinging is omitted and the adjacent ends of the bars 16, 17 are detachably secured together by means of a tie wire 20, or other convenient and simple securing means. Pyrotechnic lances 21.of common form are mounted in the usual manner on the frame bars 16, 17 and are adapted,

when illuminated, to form the outline of the star as defined by their arrangement on said bars. Lances 21 also may be mounted on the spokes. The lances 21 are connected by fuses 22 of quick-match made and arranged in a common and well known manner.

Thus is provided for the set piece a collapsible or contractible frame which, when expanded as shown, is sufficiently ri id and stable to suit the needs of the devlce and capable of being contracted to relatively. small compass at times for packing and the like. To effect a contraction or collapse of the frame, the tie wire first is detached, together with such portion of the fuse 22 as may cross the connected ends of the adjacent bars 16, 17. Then the spokes 11. to 15 inclusive are removed from the hub 10 by. outward movement, and the spokes13, 12 on one side are moved through an arc toward the spoke 11, while a similaraction is applied to the spokes 14, 15 on the opposite side, thus bringing all of said spokes into substantially parallel relations, and in compact position. Such action causes the bars such spoke and become substantially parallel 16, '17 secured to each spoke to approach thereto and lie against said spokes, the successive spokes being separated in'each 'instance'by tW'o' frame bars. Such action of the several members is permitted, of course, by flexure of the hinges 18 and 19. Y The entire device maythen be contained in a package havin Hits-dimensions defined by'cthe length of t e spokes, the height of thepyr 't'echnic devices, and the combined width of f theseveral spokesand, framebars. The advantage of sucha construction, and the. saw:-

. ing; in -time,, labor "and; expense, will .be

' greatly appreciated-by those skilled in;this

art, as'-.:C,Qmpared to. the present rigid construction. of'frame: which must be packed without contraction, or at most after a. single fOldIllITODg li thecenter, ina packageof considerable sizeiand strength. The operation of extendingthestar, when itisdesired toset, ituP,W l1-.be readily understood, it being necessaryv only .to spread the spokes and frame bars, insert ,the dowels in:v the, hub. 10, 'securethe .tie:.2Q,;connec1t.thefuse 22, and

- secure the device to, a supportv in. any, de-

, sired manner as by. nailing throughthe hub. In; the particularconstruction according to Fig, 2, I alhub, 10 is provided and, in .this instance, .it ;;is square in elevation and formediwith four sockets, one on each rside.

' of, said spokes.

equilateral triangle, which triangle is com i V lineofthe Maltese cross. .The pivotingfof-v 2, spokes23,52 l, 25,1 26 preferablyis by means of hi nges 31 gconstruotedf as above 'des ribedrg z-the pivoting, ofatheouten ends of saidyba-rs Four spokes, 23,24,,;25, 2,6,,are providedrand V are adapted. to be 1 dOWfilGd' into the so ekets. ofthefhub 10?,arid saidspokes are, in this instance, ofless length relativeto the spokes 11 15,- Frame; bat 17327., 28I-are s' eoured at theirinner, endsgtoiad jacent sidesfofadjacent spokes. and extend substantially parallel With but materially beyondthe outer ends Each pair of bars 27, 28"

forms in general, WZLY- the outline of an pletedi at; theouter end ofsaid bars 27, 2'8 .by.',a cross frame bar, and each.- cross frame bar is'formed in two parts 29, 30 ofequal length, normally placed-end toend in al ine ment to' fillthe-space between. said outer ends. a The combination of, the fourequila,teral,triangles so, formed produ es the out the inner ends .of. the bars 27, 28--to V "the to the adj a ente. eIId ;0f-, the :parts 29, 30, '-re a V spea ivelmis by means f-sim l r h nges 2; hile the iadjacentendsjof the,-p a irts 29,3,0. Qare, pivoted together by -means-rofsimilar 7 \Q' ;hinges 3 3;placed onthei'r outer faces so that. l the innerends' ofz said partsmay move;in arnlva rawing,

. l Lances 3 ,4, are-mountedbn frame balfs ndicated the arrows in. the

27, 2 8, 29, 30' and, when illuminated, form the outline of the" 'Maltese' cross and, to

complete the design, I prefer to provide gerbes 35, in this instance four in number 7 and secured to the ends of the spokes 23-26 inclusive,furnishing, when. illuminated, a

sheaf of fire between'each' of the triangles above described. The lances 34: and gerbes 35 are connected'by fuses 36 of quick-match in a common manner. To. permit collapse andvcompactingi of the piece, one of the hinges 3l,such as that between the spoke 25 and adjacent framebar 27, iisom'itted and in itsplace is substituteda detachable fastener sueh asatie wire 37 .3 To collapse and compact or. contract-the device; the tieiwi-re 37 is unfastened or removed, the spokes 23, 2%25 and: 26 ;a-re Withdrawn from thevhub .10,- the several cross-bars (parts 29, 30)- are dimensions defined generally=by the lengths of thebars 27, 28, the height'of the'lances and fuse} on the bars, and the combined 7 Widthof falltthe spokes and frame bars. :In' the particularuconstruction according toF-i -gs. d and 5, ahublOP-iis provided, pref-- erably cylindrical; in. form and madeiwith peripheral sockets, fourin number;

the hub 10" and; are provided with spikes 42-;on their outer :ends." Frame. bars; 43,. 44; are arranged in pairs, in this instance four Four. spokes 38, 39, 40,,41, are: provided and arev adapted tobe doweled into the sockets of pairs spaced apart, and said; bars are connected' for flexing or-articulation by hinges 45 of the character; above described, placed on the outer surf-ares of their adjacent ends. The frame bars L3, 454, .inpairs, arejrplaced andanrangedto; form a brokenoutline of a Greek cross,:and\endibars,- each formed of two; parts 1 4:5 ,1 dfiriplared end to end" in alinement and; connected together by hinges 47' of; the characterabove described. mounted on their outer faces; Laregpositioned to supply "thewbrokenjpants of said outline, and the outer ends lofsa-i'd :end bars. '(parts .45, 46)

l li

arepivoted. to; the outerends of the frame bars 43, 454 respectively 'zbyzhinges 48,- 49, likexuntoiithe Othershinges described, placed on the; inner surfaces of adjacent end portions. .Diflerent: indices are applied to the hingeSTfS; 4'9 for the' reason that the hinges" 48;.preferab'ly are formed" with holesthrough whiohgtheaspikesL412 may project when the-J elements are assembled as shown in Fig. 4, to connect the frame and end bars to the hub 10". In said Fig. 4, the spokes are indicated by single lines to avoid confusion, the scale being small, but the spokes are shown more in detail in Fig. 5, and such detail is to guide and control. One of the hinges 47 preferably is substituted by a different hinge 47 a of common loose-pin type, to provide means for separating the outline at times. Pyrotechnic lances 50 are mounted on the frame bars 43, 44, and parts 45, 46,.in a common manner and are adapted, when illuminated, to form the outline of the Greek cross and the proportions and relations of parts are such as to produce an illustration now popularly known as the red cross. The lances 50 are connected by a fuse 51 of quick-match made and arranged in a common and well known manner. To col.- lapse-and compact or contract the device, the loose pin of the hinge 47' is removed. the fuse 51 is divided adjacent thereto, the spokes 38, 39, 40, 41 are withdrawn from the hub 10", the several end bars are articulated on the hinges 47, in the direction indicated by arrows, parts 45, 46 of the end bars articulate on the hinges 48, 49, the hinges 48 folding across and along-side of the outer ends of the spokes 38, 39, 40, 41, and the bars are moved toward each other and toward the spokes, and the spokes are moved toward each other, all through arcs and in the same plane, into substantially parallel relations as shown in Fig. 5. The entire device may then be contained in a package having its dimensions defined generally by the length of the spokes, the height of the lances and fuses and the combined width of all the spokes and frame bars.

it will be understood that various other combinations and arrangements of hub, spokes and frame bars may be had. to form various designs and outlines, without departing from the spirit of my invention; and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement herein shown and described. The essence of the invention lies in the provision of spokes removably secured to a central hub and carrying pivoted frame bars, all of which may be compacted by movement in the same plane to form a package of materially less width than the width of the complete piece when extended.

I claim as my invention 1. A device of the class described, comprising a hub, spokes detachably secured to and radiating from said hub, frame bars pivoted to said spokes and forming an outline or design, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars.

2. A. device of the class described, comprising a hub, spokes detachably secured to and radiating from said hub, frame bars pivotally secured to said spokes and to each other, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a hub, spokes detachably secured to and radiating from said hub, frame bars pivotally secured to said spokes and to each other, said connected spokes and frame bars being adapted to be brought into compact parallel relations upon removal of said spokes from said hub, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a hub, spokes detachably secured to and radiating from said hub, frame bars pivotally secured to said spokes, said connected spokes and frame bars being adapted for movement in a common plane to compact, substantially parallel relations by removal of said spokes from said hub, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars.

A device of the class described, comprising a hub, a plurality of spokes detachably secured to said hub. frame bars pivotally secured to said spokes and pivotally connected to form an outline, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars, said frame bars being detachable at one point and movable in aplane to compact parallel relations. upon removal of said spokes from said hub, whereby said spokes and bars may lie side by side in compact relations in the same plane.

6. A device of the class described, comprising, a hub, spokes secured to and radiating from said hub, connected frame bars adapted removably and replaceably to be secured to said spokes and, when so secured, forming an outline or design, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars.

7. A device of the class described. comprising a hub. spokes secured to and radiating from said hub, connected frame bars adapted to be detachably secured to said spokes and, when so secured, forming an outline or design, adjacent ends of some of said frame bars being hinged together between said spokes, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars.

8. A device of the class described. comprising a hub, spokes secured to and radiating from said hub. connected frame bars adapted to be detachably secured to said spokes and, when so secured, forming an outline or design, and pyrotechnic devices carried by said frame bars and spokes.

9.1m a device of the class described, frame bars pivotally secured to each other and forming an outline or design, said frame bars being detachable at one point and movable in a plane and adapted to be brought vinto icoll ipect parallel" relations at ene peint by momment'jihlgoggh an a1 c 'u-pon separationiabgne point, and;-pyrotechin a common ;.p,1 ane,- 1and pyrotechni cdevices 10 nicdevices carried bysaid frame bars. carriedby said frameibars.

J10.,In a device of the class described, Signed atlEortsDodggin the counbygf frame bars pivotallysecured'to each other Webster and State of Iowa, this 18th day and forming an outline or design, said ofMaz-ch, 1918.

'framebars'beingadapted to bebrought-into compact parallel relations, upon separation 7 V7 HARRY J.

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